Recent content by Rando

Probably not. I don't think most automotive folks would use banana plugs for this application. If you wanted to do this for real you would likely want to make your own PCB layout using connectors and number of channels of your choice. But for someone looking to control their aux lighting...

Wow! Nice find. Well there you go, 4 Channel completely customizable PDM for $63!

That is usually not a problem. The solid state switches will take a 3.3V control signal, and inputs to the Arduino can either be divided down (analog) or buffered (digital). For CAN you need to add a CAN bus driver anyway.

I guess I am not really sure what you are thinking about using these for? Interfacing with individual cells? In which case a purpose built BMS would have to be a better and cheaper option.

Remember that CAN is just an interface protocol, you would need a device that runs the software that implements the BMS functions and sends the CAN bus messages to the 'PDM' to tell it to turn on/off certain channels, or to ask it what the battery voltage or current is on a certain channel...

I still think the sPOD is kind of lame for the price. The solid state MOSFET switches are cheaper and easier for a manufacturer than relays/fuses. But I do think it has the same 'features' as an official 'PDM' such as configurable current limits and the like. These things are pretty simple...

A lot of people are using these, just by less technical names. Thinks like sPOD, Switch Pros, Aux Beam and dozens more are all 'Solid State PDMs'. If you are so inclined, you can even make your own - these are what many of them are using, $4 per channel...

Your solar charge controllers aren't really sensing the state of charge of your battery, only the voltage of the battery and maybe the acceptance (or tail) current right at the end of the charge. The chargers will stay in bulk mode until they see the battery voltage rise to the absorb...

I would just mount it all inside the camper. You want all the chargers (solar, B2B, shore power if you have it) to be close to the battery. If you have a lithium battery and plan on camping in cold weather, you want the battery to be inside your heated/insulated living space to stay warm...

I am sure it was not dissipating the power in the controller, it would have gone up in smoke immediately if it was. If you are using the load terminals on the controller, the controller subtracts the power passing through those from the input power to give you the net power to the battery. If...

Pretty sure that is my diagram, and this has worked well for me for several years. However I enjoy tinkering, if you just want the most straightforward solution, just buy the Victron DC-DC charger.

I ran into this building instrumentation for high altitude aircraft (altitudes above 20km/70,000'). Spinning disks would last a flight or two. Ended up needing to use solid state drives, which were incredibly expensive at the time, or a pressure vessel for the drive, also incredibly expensive...

This is a pretty accurate assessment. It does seem that there have been a lot of new camper companies of late, and many aren't going to make it. My view as an outsider is that a lot of them are more interested and experienced in their instagram, facebook and 'brand development' efforts and...

The CurrentConnected BMS looks to be the same as the Overkill Solar BMS, which is actually made by LLT Power (and available for less from them)...

What is the motivation for using diesel? Unless your truck is also diesel or you plan on using diesel for cooking (and hot water) it seems like added complexity for little benefit. Even the fancy diesel heaters (Webasto etc) tend to be less reliable than quality propane heaters, due to soot...